Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

Buzzing woke Anthony the next morning. He shifted his position on the bed and tried to ignore it, but it wouldn’t stop. He opened his eyes and frowned when he realized there was a large window opposite of the bed. Where the hell was he? A split second later, the memories of the night before flooded his mind.

Lalani .

He felt a soft warm body against his chest and he looked down. She was snuggled up against him, her hand on his chest right where his heart was.

The buzzing started again, and he realized it was Lalani’s phone on the nightstand. He reached for it and saw her father’s picture on the caller ID.

“Lalani.”

“Muaphaphump,” was all she said before trying to burrow closer to him.

“Lalani, baby, your father’s on the phone.”

She sighed, and he could tell she was trying to get back to sleep. “What? Who?”

“Your father.”

Her eyes shot open. “My father?”

He held up her phone as it started vibrating again.

“I can answer for you.”

She sat up and grabbed the phone.

“Hey, Daddy.”

She was quiet as her father spoke. Something in her voice told him that she wasn’t accustomed to answering the phone after a night in bed with a man. Anthony couldn’t help but be pleased by that little nugget of info.

“Um, I’m sorry, I forgot. I can be there in about twenty minutes.”

As she listened to her father, Anthony sat up and kissed her shoulder. She tossed him an irritated glance. Oh, yeah, this wasn’t something she had done on a regular basis.

“I promise. Just busy this week and kind of stressed.”

He trailed a finger down her spine, enjoying the way she wiggled when he teased her.

“Okay, Daddy.”

She hung up and slipped away from him. He frowned, but he couldn’t help but enjoy the sight of her gorgeous ass as she headed to the bathroom.

“So, we’re having breakfast with your father.”

She leaned out the door. “ I’m having breakfast with my father.”

“No. We’re having breakfast with your father.”

“I—”

“Either we are a couple, or we aren’t. There is no in between. I’m too old for games like that.”

She didn’t say anything for a long moment, as he refused to break eye contact. He wasn’t going to walk away if she said he couldn’t come. He’d just have to fight her harder.

“Okay, but it’s still going to be weird.”

“You mean your father thinks you’re a virgin?”

“No, but, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t want to be smacked in the face with the fact that I’m sleeping with you. Not right away at least.”

“We’ll just act as if we had plans to meet. I’ll distract him with Marine talk.”

She sighed. “Fine.”

At that, she slipped into the bathroom. He waited until she came back into the room to grab her and pull her closer. They were both still naked.

“I don’t have time for this.”

He tugged on her hair until she bent down. He kissed her, slow and easy, before pulling back.

“Good morning, Lalani.”

She smiled. “Good morning. Now, get dressed.”

He chuckled and let her go. Life wasn’t too bad. He’d had a night with one of the most amazing women he had ever met, and he planned on being back here for more time with her. He had nothing on his schedule this weekend but spending time with Lalani.

“Why don’t we go pick up my car? I need to swing by my house and get a change of clothes.”

Lalani stopped at the street corner and waited for the light to change. She didn’t respond. She really didn’t want to talk to him. Not at the moment. The man was being completely pigheaded. Hell, he had practically marked her as his. And in front of her father. Worse, her father seemed okay with it. That irritated her more than anything. He’d treated most of her boyfriends and dates as if they were criminals. But Anthony, he welcomed with opened arms like he was some kind of hero.

Okay, he was a hero. Marine and NCIS Special Agent, but still. He practically offered her up to him like she was a prize.

Men.

“Lalani?”

She looked at him, then turned away. “I think you can make your way back to your house without me.”

“Hey,” he said, pulling her away from the street. He was frowning at her and looking hurt. Dammit. It made her feel like a bitch. Probably because she was being a royal bitch.

“What?”

“Is there something I did?” he asked.

She crossed her arms and tried to get her temper under control. The truth was, he hadn’t been that bad, but something was under her skin.

Anthony. He was under her skin. He had been since the moment he’d announced to her that he wasn’t interested in her. She could admit that now, but she wasn’t about to admit it to him. If she did, he could use it against her. It was her soft spot. The man held so much control over her and she barely knew him…that did not make sense.

Pushing those thoughts aside, she shook her head. “No. I just…never mind. I need to do some work today.”

Not true. It could wait until Monday. She needed time and space to think.

“How about we get my car, run out to my place, then I can come back here with you? I’d love to see your studio.”

“Yeah?”

He nodded. “Of course. It’s part of you, so I want to see it.”

He wasn’t trying to be pushy. How could she fault a man who said things like that? She’d have to be a bitch. There was not a doubt in her mind that he was telling the truth. He really did want to know more about her.

“Okay, but can’t you pick me up when you get back in town?”

She needed time to think, but apparently Anthony wasn’t going for that.

“I thought you would want to come by and see Jon.”

Oh, the man wasn’t fair. She saw the little smile he gave her, and knew she would not be able to resist a visit with her favorite kid.

“Fine.”

She turned to walk back in the direction of her apartment, but he shook his head. “Come on. I parked at the Hale Koa parking.”

He took her hand and led her down the street to the parking structure.

“A ride with me is just what you need to bring back your smile. I know it will do wonders for me.”

She didn’t miss the humor in his voice. “What is that supposed to mean?”

He had the nerve to try to look innocent. “Nothing.”

“Yeah right.”

“I think you have a dirty mind.”

She snorted. “Again, kettle, pot.”

He smiled as he slipped on his sunglasses. “Then I guess we make a good match.”

She couldn’t fight the bubble of laughter, and she suddenly felt lighter. With the sun on her face and a sexy man to spend the weekend with, Lalani decided to push aside her worries and enjoy her good fortune.